Type-writing machine.



J. A. RUFFIN. TYP'E WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31 19I6.

1,295,212. I I Patented Feb; 25, 1919,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

. F 5 Pic! INVENTOR J. A. RUFFIN.

TYPE wnnme MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE!- Patented Feb. 25, 1,919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

: INVENTOR A7TORNEY8 "iran'mrns ATE onrrc.

JOHN A. BUFFIN, OF MHJDLETCWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NOISELESS TYPEWBITEB COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be 'it known that I, JOHN A. RUFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut,,have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and more specifically to improved typewriter escapements.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and practical means to render the escapement mechanism noiseless when the platen carriage is moved toward.

line-commencing pos1tion. I

Other objects and advantages will be in part noted hereinafter in connection with a typical embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The invention-accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter'set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthe' following claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of an escapement mechanism associated with portions of a typewriting machine shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the escapement;

Fig. 3 is a cross section and, plan view of the escapement; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section and side view thereof.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is illustrated as incorporated in a Noiseless typewriter. It is to be understood, however, that the features of the invention are susceptible of application as well to various other styles of machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is represented a typewriter having at the rear a traveling platen carriage 1, mounted for longitudinal reciprocation on a shift rail 2 ca able ofelevation and depression to permit different case arms 11 of a stamped bracket 12 mounted.

on a cross piece of the machine frame at 13. The bracket 12 also supports the escapement wheel 7 and its associated parts comprising a friction brake wheel 14, a silencing plate 15 (to be described), and staggered rollers 16 which fit in complementary grooves 1.7 of the spindle 5 to key the escapement wheel to the spindle and thereby, insure rotation of the escapement wheel in synchronism with the longitudinal movement of the platen carriage while permitting relative case shifting of the latter.

The dog carrier 10 is provided on its lower side with the movable dog 8- and on its upper side at the extremity of an ofiset arm 18 with the relatively fixed dog 9. The two dogs mentioned are respectively pivoted at 19 and 20 and extend, in their general direction, substantially at right angles, being normally biased to carry the dogs oppositely by a single retractile spring 21 tensioned between a rear extension 22 of the movable dog 8 and a depending lug 23 of the relatively fixed dog9.

When the machine is at rest the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2, wherein 'the xed dog 9 is engaged by a tooth of the escapement wheel to limit movement of the platen carriage in proper position to receive a character im rint. escapement either through the universal bar associated with the type levers, or through the space bar, movement is transmitted to the dog carrier 10 through link 24 or link 25 to rock the carrier and elevate the relatively fixed dog 9 out of engagement with the escapment wheel tooth so that-said wheel rotates under the influence of the carriage propelling drum spring, and the movable dog 8 is simultaneously raised in a position Upon actuation of the to be engagedby the succeeding teeth of the escapement wheel. The latter then rotates until dog 8 is limited by a cam stop 26 pivoted on the under side of the dog carrier at 27 and extending within a recess 28 on the rear end of the movable dog. The thus limited position of the movable dog coincides substantially with the normal position of the fixed dog, so that upon released rock ing of the dog carrier the fixed dog moves to engage and hold the escapement wheel 7, and the-movable dog 8 is carried out of engagement therewith and springs silently to its normal position for succeeding operation.

When the platen carriage is moved to the right, for newlines of writing, the teeth ofthe escapement wheel 7 would normally tend to force the relatively fixed dog 9 rearward against spring 21, thereby permitting re verse rotation of the escapement wheel, but entailing a rapid and objectionable clicking sound due to the spring pressed striking of the fixed dog against the successive escapement wheel teeth. There is accordingly provided the plate 15 above the escapement wheel and loose on the supporting hub 29 thereof. This plate has an offset rear cam piece 30 and a side cut-away portion or recess 31 within which is arranged a stud 32 on the bracket 12. A friction ring 33 is positioned between the plate 15 and hub 29 and exerts a tendency on the plate to rotate with the wheel 7 in either direction. Movement of the plate, however, is limited by its engagement at the sides of recess 31 with the stud 32 described.

During letter spacing movement of the carriage, the offset cam 30 of the silencing plate 15 is disposed in advance of and out of contact with the fixed dog 9. When, however, the carriage is moved to the right, the plate 15 is rotated, due to its frictional mounting on the hub 29, so that the cam piece 30 engages and retracts the dog 9 out of engagement with the escapement wheel teeth and holds the dog in this position as long as the carriage is moved toward linecommencing position. The dog 9 is thus held against the tension of its spring 21 and the escapement wheel is free to rotate silently.

Immediately upon cessation of the reverse carriage movement, the plate 15 is again rotated to carry the cam piece 30 out of the way of the fixed dog so that the normal letter space movement of the carriage is permitted and the silencing means is held in abeyance until its operation is again required.

' As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all tact when moved relatively'in one direction.

2. In a typewriting machine, incombination, a traveling carriage, an escapement rack therefor, a holding dog to engage the teeth of said rack for limiting the letter space movement of said carriage, and means controlled by said rack in accordance with the direction of its movement and controlling said dog to permit a' free movement of said rack opposite to its letter space movement.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a spring-propelled carriage, a rotatable escapement rack operating therewith, a'

pivoted holding dog and a pivoted stepping dog for said rack, said holding dog being spring-pressed toward said rack and bodily movable to free the latter for engagement with said stepping dog, and means to move said holdin'g dog out of contact with sa'id rackindependently of its bodily movement.

4:. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a spring-propel ed carriage, an escapement wheel operating therewith, a holdlng dog mounted for ivotal and bodily movement and normali wheel, and means frictionally associated with said wheel to move said dog pivotally to free said wheel when the latter is rotated during movement of the carriage opposite to its spring-propelled direction.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, an escapement wheel, a holding do spring-pressed thereagainst, a member ten ing to rotate with said wheel in both directions and engaging said dog when rotated in one direction, and means to limit rotation of said member in both directions independently of said wheel.

6. Ina typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage movable longitudinally for letter spacin and vertically for case shifting, a rotata' le escapement wheel to control letter spacing movement of said carriage, connecting means between said parts to iny urged to engage said.

sure simultaneous letter spacing movement member mounted for limitedrotationabout the axis of said wheel and having a part In testimony whereof I afiix my signaodverlap ing the teeth thereof adjacen' saig tnre, in the presence of two witnesses.

0 an means to insure rotation 0 sai mgnber to interpose said part thereof be- JOHN RUFFIN 5 tween said dog and the teeth of saidwheel Witnesses:

while said carriage is moved toward line- ERENA K. ALLEN, commencing positlon. D. B. WEsTIN. 

